A new restaurant in town, a chance to meet the county's new director of Health Services, summer camps for the children of Ukraine, a clarification on the Porchfest article and more
I’m confused. Ron feels misrepresented and that your original article didn’t speak for all of the people opposed to Porchfest, yet he goes on to speak on behalf of all the people opposed to Porchfest.
Maybe it’s better for folks opposed to Porchfest to acknowledge that they are a diverse group of people opposed for many different reasons — some founded and some ridiculous. Unless they come together to align on why they are opposed, they are just individuals opposed for personal reasons… and they sound cranky at best. Shrug.
Regardless, I live one block over from high street and would gladly welcome Porchfest in my neighborhood! (Note to self: what qualifies as a neighborhood in a city as tiny as ours? Seems like the folks opposed to Porchfest on High St love to claim “outsider!” against anyone who doesn’t meet their personal standard of High St neighborhood resident.)
Anyway, having the event at Ives or Ragle eliminates the Porch part of Porchfest and what makes it unique.
There is definitely opportunity to improve relationships between Porchfest organizers and the community, and it sounds like organizers dropped the ball in a few instances.
That said I can’t help but feel like no matter what organizers do, those opposed will keep moving the goalposts because the reality is that they don’t want this because… they just don’t want this. That’s fine, but please stop pretending you’re open to it when you’re not. It creates false hope for those of us who want to have some fun in this town.
Re Porchfest, our group Gradina plans to play at Ives on Sept. 13, but we had hoped to play in our actual driveway. My feeling is that Porchfest would be best if it can be acoustic and unplugged. I can imagine being a disgruntled neighbor if the music was loud and was not to my taste. The charm of Porchfest is that it can be intimate and nonobtrusive; literally people playing music on their porches, as we already do quite often. Our group has celebrated Porchfest for years now before it became an amped-up event. It would be great to have it be this way and try it with some streets blocked off in different neighborhoods. Then the people who want blasting music can go to other events in other places.
Laura -- really appreciate you following up to present a fuller Porchfest picture. Looking at both articles and reading the comments, I see this discussion simply personifies the tale about the blind people, each touching a different part, describing the elephant. As community members we routinely confuse intent, execution, and results as being in opposition. Yet, there is clearly constructive dialogue to be had when we evaluate each stage in isolation.
Porchfest opponents: NIMBYism at its strongest. It was a very nice event last year and it's a major disappointment there won't be street music this year. Obviously quite a few people on the street were in favor - they let the bands play on their property. The substantiative complaints from the Gold Ridge Fire Dept. could easily have been addressed but there is no answer to those who are troubled by people enjoying themselves.
I’m confused. Ron feels misrepresented and that your original article didn’t speak for all of the people opposed to Porchfest, yet he goes on to speak on behalf of all the people opposed to Porchfest.
Maybe it’s better for folks opposed to Porchfest to acknowledge that they are a diverse group of people opposed for many different reasons — some founded and some ridiculous. Unless they come together to align on why they are opposed, they are just individuals opposed for personal reasons… and they sound cranky at best. Shrug.
Regardless, I live one block over from high street and would gladly welcome Porchfest in my neighborhood! (Note to self: what qualifies as a neighborhood in a city as tiny as ours? Seems like the folks opposed to Porchfest on High St love to claim “outsider!” against anyone who doesn’t meet their personal standard of High St neighborhood resident.)
Anyway, having the event at Ives or Ragle eliminates the Porch part of Porchfest and what makes it unique.
There is definitely opportunity to improve relationships between Porchfest organizers and the community, and it sounds like organizers dropped the ball in a few instances.
That said I can’t help but feel like no matter what organizers do, those opposed will keep moving the goalposts because the reality is that they don’t want this because… they just don’t want this. That’s fine, but please stop pretending you’re open to it when you’re not. It creates false hope for those of us who want to have some fun in this town.
Re Porchfest, our group Gradina plans to play at Ives on Sept. 13, but we had hoped to play in our actual driveway. My feeling is that Porchfest would be best if it can be acoustic and unplugged. I can imagine being a disgruntled neighbor if the music was loud and was not to my taste. The charm of Porchfest is that it can be intimate and nonobtrusive; literally people playing music on their porches, as we already do quite often. Our group has celebrated Porchfest for years now before it became an amped-up event. It would be great to have it be this way and try it with some streets blocked off in different neighborhoods. Then the people who want blasting music can go to other events in other places.
Just dined at Mi Pueblo. Can confirm food and service is great!
Laura -- really appreciate you following up to present a fuller Porchfest picture. Looking at both articles and reading the comments, I see this discussion simply personifies the tale about the blind people, each touching a different part, describing the elephant. As community members we routinely confuse intent, execution, and results as being in opposition. Yet, there is clearly constructive dialogue to be had when we evaluate each stage in isolation.
Porchfest opponents: NIMBYism at its strongest. It was a very nice event last year and it's a major disappointment there won't be street music this year. Obviously quite a few people on the street were in favor - they let the bands play on their property. The substantiative complaints from the Gold Ridge Fire Dept. could easily have been addressed but there is no answer to those who are troubled by people enjoying themselves.